What causes a "roach back"? - Page 1

Aside from the obvious of breeding dogs with roached backs to other roached back dogs, does anybody know where the "roach back" comes from?  Is there a cause for it, like a longer spine, or is it just something that happens?  I had somebody ask me yesterday what causes a roach back, and while I've read plenty of discussions about them being favored or hated by the judges, I don't recall reading anything about what causes them.

 I imagine breeding dogs of steeper 2nd half of the back away from the withers combined with longer spines.

Ibrahim

Ibrahim, why do you think that is? Does it extend the gait or what?
Reggie

roach can be from many things, deformed curvature of the spine, a steep croup, low withers, or a combination of any of these.  the roach was favored because it seemed to show more rear drive in movement. and in some ways the roach is a strong back (see a suspension bridge or arch way is stronger than a straight bridge).

now whether its correct or not is another question.  I've seen dogs with backs soo bad it appeared to be a severe birth defect.

A dog is not a bridge.  It's ugly and is piss poor breeding practice.

didn't want to imply I thought the roach was correct, but structure wise it is a strong design.  I prefer a correct topline, but the fad nowadays has leaned more towards the roach due to the rear drive, or impression of strong rear drive, it gives the dogs.

the roach is just as bad as a sway back imo.  neither are correct.

It is a fault that as appeared in the breed for at least 90years if not longer It used to be called 'Carp' in the 1920s

 As said many times by Prager, breeding for extremes is wrong as it will bring problems un-accounted for or kick away other favourable traits and roached back is no exception but from structural point of view a roach back is much stronger than a sagging one and tighter than a level one. A roached back is actually longer than a level back, just imagine a roached back straightened up then it will show a much longer back. A roached back on a dog of minimum acceptable length ratio to height shows a remarkable rear momentum in fast gaiting and shows a beautiful smooth topline of less curvature when in movement and even long reaching strides. That said does not mean this is the correct thing to do as per standard but maybe it explains why some breeders like roached backs, not only it being the nowadays fad.

Ibrahim